ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has urged all the political forces to work in tandem with the sole objective of mitigating sufferings of the flood affected people instead of exploiting this calamity to gain political mileage at this hour of national trial. The Prime Minister expressed these views while talking to Amir of JUI-F Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Minister for Tourism Maulana Atta-ur- Rehman, who called on him at the Prime Ministers House here on Wednesday. Gilani said that the government was handling the flood situation with the prime aim of mitigating the sufferings of the affectees in a minimum possible time. Efforts were also afoot to restore the infrastructure and the civic network damaged by the flood so that the rehabilitation and repatriation of the people to their homes would be made possible at the earliest, he added. The three-pronged strategy to help the flood affectees, the Prime Minister said, included the evacuation of the people marooned in the flood-hit areas; the provision of food and medicines to control spread of epidemics and the restoration of the main infrastructure, communication network and rehabilitation of the people. He further said that folding bridges and helicopters have been procured from the UK to strengthen the rescue operations. The PM said that it was the time when all the political parties, civil society and patriotic forces have to extend a helping hand to supplement the governments relief efforts. The Minister for Tourism apprised the Prime Minister of the damage done to the tourist resorts in the flood-hit areas of Swat and Malakand. He also apprised him of the tourists stranded in Swat and Malakand areas who were rescued by NDMA with the support of the Army. The Amir of JUI-F and the Minister assured the Prime Minister of their whole-hearted support in the relief activities. They also agreed with the Prime Ministers view of not doing politics at this time of trial.